Rhode Island Orders New Bottle Bill Study

Rhode Island lawmakers have commissioned a fresh analysis of beverage container recycling after shelving a prior legislative recommendation. The state Department of Environmental Management released a draft report last month from a hired consulting firm. The document argues that combining a bottle bill with an extended producer responsibility program is the most effective path to reduce waste.

The state first examined this issue in 2023. A 20-member Plastic Bottle Waste Commission began a two-year investigation into single-use plastic bottles. The group held 13 public hearings and collected testimony from industry representatives and environmental advocates. In April 2025, the commission published an 18-page report. It stated that the current recycling system was failing and that too much recyclable packaging was ending up in landfills and waterways.

Despite the commission's recommendation, three members successfully argued for more study on modernizing the existing recycling infrastructure. The General Assembly accepted this delay. Shortly after the commission's work was shelved, the legislature passed a law requiring a statewide study of possible beverage container redemption and packaging programs.

The new draft report aligns with the earlier findings. It suggests that adopting both a bottle bill and an extended producer responsibility program is the best option for improving recycling rates and reducing litter. This mirrors the conclusion reached by the previous commission after 24 months of work. The state is now entering another round of public discussion and analysis.

Neighboring New England states implemented similar laws decades ago. Vermont enacted a bottle bill in 1972, followed by Maine in 1976, Connecticut in 1978, and Massachusetts in 1981. Rhode Island remains one of the few states in the region without such a measure. The process has already taken years, echoing the decade-long debate that led to the state's ban on plastic bags.

Opposition to the bill has come from major beverage producers and local business groups. The Coca-Cola Co. and the Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative have voiced concerns about the cost and logistics of a deposit system. The draft report is currently available for public comment on the Department of Environmental Management website.

The comment period ends on Nov. 16. Lawmakers will review the feedback before deciding whether to move forward with legislation. The state has now spent at least four years studying the issue without enacting a permanent change to its waste management rules.